Attack in Congress' hands

President was right to take case for attack on Syria to lawmakers

Over the past weeks, we have been holding our collective breath to learn whether the president would order military strikes on Syria. So, it was a relief to discover late last week that he will take the question first to Congress.

The issues in Syria are complicated, just as they are distressing. The possible ramifications of a strike are frightening.

The president and members of Congress must carefully consider all the evidence and all the likely outcomes. Then they must act in the best interests of the nation and the world.

President Obama began the conversation by insisting that he has the legal right to take action without approval from Congress. Disputes over where the president's war powers fall has long been a topic of debate, and that debate continues as the president calls for a military strike against Syria in response to the Assad regime's alleged use of chemical weapons on Syrian rebel areas.

Regardless of legal positions, we believe the president did the right thing - legally, politically and morally - by taking the question to Congress.

Now it is time for our elected lawmakers to put aside their partisan positioning and do the right thing by listening thoughtfully and critically to all the arguments for and against a strike, then voting the action up or down based on that information.

Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, called for a "thoughtful debate" before voting "for what I believe will protect lives in Syria and be in the best interest of the United States and world order." We believe that such a debate must happen and that the resulting vote consider all three of those concerns - the lives of thousands of Syrians - including children, our nation's best interest and the impact of any action on the rest of the region and the world.

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has spoken out in favor of action against Syria. Her spokesman said the senator hopes "all members of Congress can leave politics at the door and engage in honest, thoughtful consultation." We agree with that hope, and add that we hope the senator can put aside her opinions to listen to both sides of the debate.

Likewise, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., who also sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, must hold at bay his criticism of the president for not acting sooner and focus on the results of the debate.

Our Congress members must represent the citizens, but we depend on these 535 men and women to get all the facts, including classified information that the rest of us cannot yet learn, so they can make the best decisions for our country.

It may be the most important vote they cast.

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Attack in Congress' hands

Over the past weeks, we have been holding our collective breath to learn whether the president would order military strikes on Syria. So, it was a relief to discover late last week that he will take